The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in Math. The lowest is 23% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Hooper Avenue Elementary School
Hooper Avenue Elementary School is a regular public school in Toms River, serving kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Toms River Regional School District. The school sits within a large township that functions as both a bedroom suburb of New York City and a regional commercial hub for central New Jersey. Toms River is the county seat of Ocean County, home to the Ocean County Mall, and has a historic downtown village core along the Toms River. The township has been growing steadily in population and was severely affected by Superstorm Sandy, which has shaped rebuilding and development patterns. The area blends suburban residential neighborhoods with strip commercial corridors, and the school itself is located on Hooper Avenue, a main thoroughfare.
The student body is large for an elementary school and predominantly white. A modest share of students are Hispanic, and smaller shares are Black, Asian, or of two or more races. About one in six students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that suggests a relatively economically stable enrollment compared to many schools nationwide. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, a gap a parent may want to discuss with the school.
On state assessments, Hooper Avenue Elementary shows a mixed academic picture. In English language arts, proficiency rates rise across the grades, with the strongest showing in fifth grade, where a majority of students met or exceeded standards. Fourth grade also saw a solid share of students reaching proficiency. Third grade lagged behind, with fewer than half of students scoring proficient. In math, the pattern is different: the strongest results came in third grade, where more than half of students were proficient, but the rate dropped for fourth and fifth grades, settling below half. Science results in fifth grade were lower, with fewer than one in four students proficient. Taken together, the school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint among districts in Ocean County. That places Hooper Avenue in the stronger half of its county peers, though not among the top performers.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The district context matters here. Voters in Toms River approved a bond referendum in 2022 to implement full-day kindergarten, which launched in 2023 with new classrooms across the district's elementary schools. That is a recent shift families with young children will want to note. At the same time, the district has lost a substantial amount in state aid under New Jersey's school funding formula, leading to staff reductions and program cuts. In 2024, voters rejected a large bond referendum that would have funded roof repairs, HVAC replacements, and security upgrades across all schools, leaving significant infrastructure needs unaddressed. The district has indicated plans for a revised, smaller referendum.
Housing in the area is moderately priced relative to state benchmarks. Home values have been rising modestly, and rents have increased slightly as well. The county housing market shows a moderate number of active listings and a typical pace of sales, with homes going under contract in about a month. The area is car-dependent overall, with a more walkable downtown village core. NJ Transit provides bus service connecting Toms River to New York City.
Hooper Avenue Elementary offers a standard elementary program in a reasonably well-performing school within a district navigating financial pressures. A parent moving to the area may want to ask about how the school's math and science performance compares to other district elementary schools and what supports are in place for students who are not yet proficient, particularly in grades where the numbers are softer. The school's size means a large peer group, and its economic profile suggests a majority of families are not eligible for income-based meal support. The district's unresolved facility needs and ongoing state aid reductions are relevant background for any family considering a longer-term commitment to this attendance zone.
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